It’s easy to head to the gym, grab the heaviest set of weights you can find and start pumping away with the aim of getting ripped. It’s just as easy to jump on the treadmill or head into a field and run like the wind, hoping to shed all of your excess fat. Unfortunately, your efforts may be in vain if you’re not watching what you eat.

Getting any kind of exercise is a positive and should be encouraged but, as many fitness coaches and personal trainers will agree, you’ll struggle to see the results you want if you’re not monitoring your diet properly.

There are many different diets floating around and each is suited to different people and different goals so, you’ll need to consider many factors such as your exercise regime, lifestyle and fitness goals.

It doesn’t matter what type of training or exercise you’re doing, a healthy diet is essential to improving your fitness. Here are some examples of different fitness goals and why a customised diet is so important.

Building muscle

If you’re looking to build muscle to improve strength or work on your physique your diet is very important. To build muscle you need fuel and that fuel comes in the form of protein. Your body needs a sufficient amount of protein and carbohydrates to repair your muscles and replenish all your essential amino acids.

Burning fat

Diet is just as important if you’re trying to shed weight. Many people fall into the trap of eating less and running more but this will have adverse effect. If you’re using more energy, you need more fuel. Otherwise your body will naturally store fats and carbs, thereby increasing your excess fat levels.

Training

If you’re doing sports or athletics training, a healthy balanced diet is essential for maintaining all round fitness. Your body will need a well-rounded mixture of vitamins and minerals to keep your energy levels topped up. Things like essential oils and Omega-3 fatty acids will also help to maintain healthy joints and muscles.

As you can see, there are many benefits to monitoring your diet regardless of what you’re training for. The key is to work your diet around your lifestyle. Having a healthy diet doesn’t mean you always have to eat salad or that you have to cut out all treats, it’s about having things in moderation. Think about what it is you’re aiming for with your training and plan a diet around that to ensure your body is getting everything it needs and all your hard work isn’t going to waste.